LOS ANGELES, CA: Directors Guild of America President Michael Apted today announced the DGA's nominees for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Television, Documentaries and Commercials for the year 2007.

"We always have so much to celebrate when we announce the DGA nominees for directorial achievement in television (movies for television, dramatic series, comedy series, musical variety, reality programs, daytime serials and children's programs), documentaries and commercials," said Apted. "Each genre requires unique talent and vision, and our 45 nominees in these nine categories this year have more than met the challenge with incredibly creative and compelling projects that run the gamut from seconds to hours, from live events to years in the making. I congratulate all of them on their fine work."

The winners will be named at the 60th Annual DGA Awards Dinner on Saturday, January 26, 2008, at the Hyatt Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles.

The Nominees of the 2007 Directors Guild of America Awards for Outstanding Directorial Achievement are:

This is Mr. Avnet's second DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in this same category in 2001 for Uprising.

JEREMIAH CHECHIK

The Bronx Is Burning

(ESPN)

Mr. Chechik's Directorial Team:

Unit Production Manager: Michael Bederman

First Assistant Directors: Philip Patterson, Harvey Waldman

Second Assistant Directors: Richard E. White, Amy Lynn

This is Mr. Chechik's second DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in the 1986 Commercials category for Wave (AT&T), Clock Tower (Connecticut Bank), and Tonight, Tonight (Michelob).

LLOYD KRAMER

Oprah Winfrey Presents Mitch Albom's
For One More Day

(ABC)

Mr. Kramer's Directorial Team:

Unit Production Manager: M. Blair Breard

First Assistant Director: Christo Morse

Second Assistant Director: Annie Tan

Second Second Assistant Director: Nick Vanderpool

This is Mr. Kramer's third DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in this same category for Mitch Albom's The Five People You Meet In Heaven in 2004, and in the Televison Documentary/Actuality category for No One Dies Alone in 1988.

MIKAEL SALOMON

The Company

(TNT)

Mr. Salomon's Directorial Team:

Unit Production Manager: John M. Eckert

First Assistant Director: Michael Zimbrich

This is Mr. Salomon's first DGA Award nomination.

YVES SIMONEAU

Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee

(HBO)

Mr. Simoneau's Directorial Team:

Unit Production Manager � US: Chrisann Verges

First Assistant Director � US: Cas Donovan

Second Assistant Director � US: Adam Martin

This is Mr. Simoneau's first DGA Award nomination.

OUSTANDING DIRECTORAL ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMATIC SERIES NIGHT

JACK BENDER

Lost - "Through the Looking Glass"

(ABC)

Unit Production Manager: Pat Churchill

First Assistant Director: Richard Peter Schroer

Second Assistant Director: Meta Valentic

Second Second Assistant Director: Wainani Young Tomich

This is Mr. Bender's first DGA Award nomination.

DAVID CHASE

The Sopranos - "Made in America"

(HBO)

Unit Production Manager: Ilene S. Landress

First Assistant Director: Jeff Bernstein

Second Assistant Director: Nancy Herrmann

Second Second Assistant Director: Charlie Foster

Additional Second Second Assistant Director: Selena Beal

DGA Trainee: Marcos Gonzalez Palma

This is Mr. Chase's second DGA Award nomination. He won the Dramatic Series Night award for The Sopranos pilot episode in 1999. Additionally, he was a recipient of the DGA Honor in 2006 in New York.

ERIC LANEUVILLE

Lost - "The Brig"

(ABC)

Unit Production Manager: Pat Churchill

First Assistant Director: Richard Peter Schroer

Second Assistant Director: Meta Valentic

Second Second Assistant Director: Michael J. Musteric

Additional Second Second Assistant Director: Steven E. Simon

This is Mr. Laneuville's fourth DGA Award nomination in this category. He was previously nominated for the NYPD Blue episode "From Hare to Eternity" in 1993. He won the Dramatic Series Night Award for the I'll Fly Away episode "All God's Children" in 1991 and also won for his L.A. Law episode "I'm in the Nude" in 1989.

ALAN TAYLOR

Mad Men -"When Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (Pilot)"

(AMC)

Unit Production Manager: Scott Hornbacher

First Assistant Director: Mark McGann

Second Assistant Director: Maggie Murphy

Second Second Assistant Director: John Silvestri

This is Mr. Taylor's first DGA Award nomination.

TIM VAN PATTEN

The Sopranos - "Sopranos Home Movies"

(HBO)

Unit Production Manager: Henry J. Bronchtein, Ilene S. Landress

First Assistant Director: John E. Gallagher

Second Assistant Director: Peter Soldo

Second Second Assistant Director: Charlie Foster

Additional Second Second Assistant Director: Henri Sann

DGA Trainee: Kathleen Mulligan

This is Mr. Van Patten's sixth DGA Award nomination. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series in 2004 for the Sex and the City episode "An American Girl in Paris: Part Deux," and in 2003 for the Sex and The City episode "Boy Interrupted." He was nominated for the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series Night in 2006 for The Sopranos episode "Members Only," in 2004 for The Sopranos episode "Long Term Parking," and in 2002 for The Sopranos episode "Whoever Did This."

OUSTANDING DIRECTORAL ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY SERIES

MICHAEL ENGLER

30 Rock - "Rosemary's Baby"

(NBC)

Unit Production Manager: Diana Schmidt

First Assistant Director: Chris Swartout

Second Assistant Director: Jane Ferguson

This is Mr. Engler's third DGA Award nomination in this category. He was previously nominated in 2003 for the Sex and the City episode "Hop, Skip & A Week," and in 2001 for the Sex and the City episode "My Motherboard, Myself."

DAVID GROSSMAN

Desperate Housewives - "Something's Coming"

(ABC)

Unit Production Manager: Charles Skouras III

First Assistant Director: Tom Irvine

Second Assistant Director: John LaBrucherie

Second Second Assistant Director: Efrain Cortes

Additional Second Second Assistant Director: Richard E. White

This is Mr. Grossman's second DGA Award Nomination. He was previously nominated in the Musical/Variety category for The Smothers Brothers 20th Year Reunion in 1988.

BETH McCARTHY-MILLER

30 Rock - "Somebody to Love"

(NBC)

Unit Production Manager: Diana Schmidt

First Assistant Director: Stephen Lee Davis

Second Assistant Director: Bellamy Forrest

Second Second Assistant Director: Brendan Walsh

This is Ms. McCarthy-Miller's fifth DGA Award Nomination. In 2002, she won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Television, Musical Variety for America: A Tribute to Heroes (co-directed with Joe Gallen). She was twice nominated in that same category in 2003 for the Christopher Walken & The Foo Fighters episode of Saturday Night Live, and in 1999 for the 25th Anniversary episode of Saturday Night Live. McCarthy-Miller won her second DGA Award in 2000 for her direction of the Val Kilmer/U2 episode of Saturday Night Live.

DAVID NUTTER

Entourage - "The Resurrection"

(HBO)

Unit Production Manager: Wayne Carmona

First Assistant Director: Gary Goldman

Second Assistant Director: Vernon Davidson

Second Second Assistant Director: John LaBrucherie

This is Mr. Nutter's second DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in the Dramatic Series Night category for his The Sopranos episode "Join the Club" in 2006.

This is Mr. Foley's eighth DGA Award nomination, all for the Late Show with David Letterman. He was nominated in 2005 for episode #2452, in 2004 for episode #2187, in 2002 for episode #1876, in 2001 for episode #1634, in 2000 for episode #1527, in 1999 for episode #1294, and in 1998 for episode #958.

This is Mr. Horvitz's thirteenth DGA Award nomination and all in this category. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical Variety in 1997 for The Kennedy Center Honors. He received his first nomination in 1985 for Live Aid Concert. He was also nominated for The Kennedy Center Honors in 1993, and 2001. He was nominated in 1995 for Sinatra: 80 Years My Way; and received DGA nominations for The 70th, 71st, 72nd, 74th, 75th, 76th, and 77th Annual Academy Awards.

JIM HOSKINSON

The Colbert Report - #3052

(Comedy Central)

Associate Director: Yvonne DeMare

Stage Managers: Mark McKenna

This is Mr. Hoskinson's first DGA Award nomination.

CHUCK O'NEIL

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart

(Comedy Central)

Associate Director: Paul A.J. Pennolino

Stage Manager: Craig L. Spinney

This is Mr. O'Neil's fifth DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical Variety in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006, all for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart..

This is Mr. Weiss' fifth DGA Award nomination. He was nominated for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical Variety in 2006 for The 60th Annual Tony Awards, in 2005 for The 59th Annual Tony Awards, in 2002 for The 56th Annual Tony Awards, and in 2001 for The 55th Annual Tony Awards.

OUSTANDING DIRECTORAL ACHIEVEMENT IN REALITY PROGRAMS

CRAIG BORDERS

Who Wants To Be A Superhero - "Episode 208"

(Sci-Fi)

Stage Manager: Thomas Goodrich

This is Mr. Borders' first DGA Award Nomination.

TONY CROLL

Shooting Sizemore - "Episode 101"

(VH-1)

This is Mr. Croll's second DGA Award Nomination. He won the Outstanding Directorial Achievement Reality Programs Award for Three Wishes - "Episode #1, Pilot" in 2005. (The award was a tie with J. Rupert Thompson who won for Fear Factor - "Heist Fear Factor, Season 6 Premiere.")

SCOTT MESSICK

Pros vs. Joes - "Episode 201"

(Spike)

Associate Director: Andrew E. Nelson

This is Mr. Messick's first DGA Award Nomination.

TONY SACCO

Project Runway - "Fashion Giant, #403"

(Bravo)

Associate Director: Paul Hogan

This is Mr. Sacco's second DGA Award nomination. He won the Outstanding Directorial Achievement Reality Programs Award for Treasure Hunters "Episode #101" in 2006.

BERTRAM VAN MUNSTER

The Amazing Race - "Episode #1110"

(CBS)

Segment Director: Evan Weinstein

This is Mr. Van Munster's third DGA Award nomination in this category. He was previously nominated for The Amazing Race Episode #102" in 2006 and for "Episode #805" in 2005.

OUSTANDING DIRECTORAL ACHIEVEMENT IN DAYTIME SERIALS

LARRY CARPENTER

One Life To Live - "Episode #9947"

(ABC)

Associate Director: Teresa Anne Cicala

Stage Managers: Alan P. Needleman, Keith Greer

Production Associate: Anthony Wilkinson

This is Mr. Carpenter's fifth DGA Award nomination. He won the Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Daytime Serials for One Life to Live "Episode #8849" in 2003 and was nominated for that series for "Episode #9686" in 2006, "Episode #9385" in 2005 and "Episode #8655" in 2002.

This is Mr. McKinsey's sixth DGA Award nomination in this category. He won for Port Charles "Episode #1433" in 2002, and for General Hospital "Episode #8883" in 1997. He was nominated for General Hospital "Episode #11178" in 2006, "Episode #8492" in 1996, and "Episode #8233" in 1995.

ELLEN WHEELER

Guiding Light - "Episode #15221"

(CBS)

Associate Directors/Stage Managers: Chris Cullen, David Brandon

Production Associates: David Brandon, Kelly Jobmann

This is Ms. Wheeler's third DGA Award nomination. She was previously nominated for Guiding Light "Episode #14832" in 2006 and "Episode #14696" in 2005.

OUSTANDING DIRECTORAL ACHIEVEMENT IN DOCUMENTARY

KEN BURNS & LYNN NOVICK

The War

Florentine Films

This is the first DGA Award nomination for both Mr. Burns and Ms Novick.

ALEX GIBNEY

Taxi to the Dark Side

Jigsaw Productions

This is Mr. Gibney's first DGA Award nomination.

ASGER LETH

Ghosts of Cite Soleil

Sony BMG Feature Films

This is Mr. Leth's first DGA Award nomination.

RICHARD E. ROBBINS

Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience

The Documentary Group

This is Mr. Robbins' first DGA Award nomination.

BARBET SCHROEDER

Terror's Advocate

Magnolia Pictures

This is Mr. Schroeder's first DGA Award nomination.

OUSTANDING DIRECTORAL ACHIEVEMENT IN COMMERICALS

DANTE ARIOLA

Production Company: MJZ

Grenade, Playstation 3 - TBWA/Chiat Day

Unit Production Manager: Brady Vant Hull

First Assistant Director: Dave Dean

Flare, Wrigley's - Energy BBDO

Unit Production Manager: Natalie Gillian Hill

First Assistant Director: Dave Dean

Second Assistant Director: Carl Jackson

Addicted, Nike - Wieden & Kennedy Amsterdam

Unit Production Manager: Natalie Gillian Hill

First Assistant Directors: Dave Dean, John Mattern

Second Assistant Director: Zaida Fakih

Second Second Assistant Director: Darren Maynard

This is Mr. Ariola's fifth DGA Award nomination in this category. He was previously nominated in 2004, 2002 and 2000, and won the award in 2006.

FREDRIK BOND

Production Company: MJZ

Straw, Milk - Goodby

First Assistant Director: Craig H. Owens

Second Assistant Director: Eric Topp

Aviator, JC Penney - Saachi & Saachi NY

This is Mr. Bond's second DGA Award nomination in this category. He was previously nominated in 2004.

FRANK BUDGEN

Production Company: Gorgeous Enterprises

Playdoh, Sony Bravia - Fallon

First Assistant Director: Michael C. Bigwood

Second Assistant Director: Mark Kaufmann

Production Company: Gorgeous Enterprises /Anonymous Content

S.O.S., Save Our Selves/Live Earth - Young & Republicam

First Assistant Director: Jack W. Fitch

Second Assistant Director: Marc Vance

Second Second Assistant Director: Mike Carlson

This is Mr. Budgen's first DGA Award nomination.

NICOLAI FUGLSIG

Production Company MJZ UK

Tipping Point, Guinness - BBDO

It's Magic, JC Penney - Saachi & Saachi NY

First Assistant Director: Thomas Smith

Second Assistant Director: Kate Greenberg

Journey, Motorola - AMV BBDO

This is Mr. Fuglsig's first DGA Award nomination.

NOAM MURRO

Production Company: Biscuit Filmworks

Night Drive, VW Golf - DDB London

Unit Production Manager: Jay Veal

First Assistant Director: Michael Dignum

Second Assistant Director: Michael Saffie

Second Second Assistant Director: Eric Schneider

Affair, Orbit Gum - BBDO Chicago

Unit Production Manager: Jay Veal

First Assistant Director: Gary Feil

Second Assistant Director: Wendy Oakes

Remember, NBA - Goodby, Silverstein & Partners

Unit Production Manager: Jay Veal

First Assistant Director: Michael Salven

Second Assistant Director: Robert E. Kay

This is Mr. Murro's fifth DGA Award nomination in this category. He was previously nominated in 2002, 2003 and 2005, and won the award in 2004.

OUSTANDING DIRECTORAL ACHIEVEMENT IN CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS

PAUL HOEN

Jump In

(Disney Channel)

This is Mr. Hoen's third DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in this same category for Searching for David's Heart in 2004 and the Even Stevens episode "Take My Sister... Please" in 2000.

KENNY ORTEGA

High School Musical 2

(Disney Channel)

Unit Production Manager: Donald R. Schain

First Assistant Directors: Martin Jedlicka

Second Assistant Director: Robert Reeves

Second Second Assistant Director: Brent Geisler

This is Mr. Ortega's second DGA Award nomination. He won the Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children's Programs Award for High School Musical in 2006.

FRED SAVAGE

Wizards of Waverly Place - "The Crazy 10 Minute Sale"

(Disney Channel)

Unit Production Manager: Greg Hampson

First Assistant Director: Guy Distad

Second Assistant Director: Ron Moseley

This is Mr. Savage's second DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in this category for Phil of the Future "Not So Great Great Great Grandpa" in 2006.